25TH GAMES

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS • www.veteransgoldenagegames.va.gov

SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2011

Quest for the Gold!Quest for the Gold!

news

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE

25TH NATIONAL VETERANS GOLDEN AGE GAMES

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE

25TH NATIONAL VETERANS GOLDEN AGE GAMES

Outrigger Canoeing ExhibitionThe 25th National Veterans Golden Age Games is excited to bring you the opportunity to join us in the Exhibition Event of Outrigger Canoeing this year. This event is the fi rst time the sport has been offered in the history of the games.

Over the last hundred years, Outrigger Canoeing has evolved into one of Hawaii’s most beloved pastimes and sports and will be introduced for the fi rst time to our veteran athletes from across the country. In the Hawaiian language, Hoe Wa’a Mau means “paddle the canoe forward,” which linked the Hawaiian culture with their ocean roots.

The Outrigger Canoe event is fun, safe and easily accessible for all Veterans regardless of age or physical condition. Outrigger canoes, unlike regular canoes, have support fl oats attached to the hull to help prevent it from tipping.

Athletes in the outrigger canoeing community, including an adaptive paddling team, will be available to help Veterans in the waters off of the Hilton Hawaiian Village pier. The event will take place Saturday May 28 and Sunday May 29 at 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day. There may be opportunities to sign-up onsite if you have not previously registered.

Aloha! ...and other words to make you sound like a true Hawaiian

aloha hello, good bye; compassion, love or sympathy

mahalo nui loa

thank you very much

kala dollar, money

kaukau

food

inu drink

kane

man

wahine

woman

kiki

child

koa

soldier

alaka’i

leader

kapu

sacred

mele

song, sing

wiki wiki

quick

Air Force Veteran is Up Early and On the Beach PracticingTourists gave her a rather odd looks, but Janet Escobedo didn’t seem to notice at all as she rounded out and threw a 2.2 lb discus with all her might on the sunny beach.

“I’m a recreation therapist on the spinal cord unit at the Albuquerque VA,” said Air Force Veteran Escobedo. “The last thing my guys said to me when I left was that I better not come back without a medal, so here I am, up at the crack of dawn sweating and practicing.”

Escobedo served 20 years as an Air Force intelligence offi cer from 1977-1997, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. This is her fi rst time competing at the NVGAG, although not her fi rst time competing. In fact, in 1983, she competed in Berlin, Germany, at the Armed Forces Continental Sports Conference and won a Gold Medal for discus and even set a world record.

“That was a long time ago, though, and the Games have given me reason to work out and get back in shape. You know, I have to walk the talk if I’m going to convince paralyzed Veterans to get out there and exercise.”

I’m really happy to be here, but most importantly, I really need to do my best. I don’t want to let my Veterans down,” she said.

Fun in the SunWhile in Hawaii you’ll notice

the sun always seems to

be shining. To ensure you

have a great and enjoyable

time, please make sure you

drink lots of fl uid and wear

sunscreen.

Water is by far the best form

of hydration. Water should be

consumed before, during and

following any physical activity.

Five points of dehydration are:

Feeling thirsty•

When your mouth or • skin feels dry

Feeling tired•

When hungry (because • thirst is often mistaken

for hunger)

Dark yellow urine • (except fi rst thing

in the morning or if

taking vitamins)

As to sunscreen, it is vitally

important to take care of

your skin. The increase in skin

cancer is directly attributed

to increased exposure to

the sun. In addition, certain

medications make it easier

for a person’s skin to burn.

Sunscreen with protection

of SPF 30 or higher is

recommended.

Make sure you have a great

time in Hawaii — drink plenty

of water and wear plenty of

sunscreen while you are out in

the sun.

Drafted at the tender age of 18, Army Veteran, Gordon Wallace, left his native home in Hawaii in 1970 to serve his country in Vietnam.

As one of 16 children, Wallace left school after the seventh grade to work in the family business. Education wasn’t important for the boys. “The boys had to work to help feed the family,” said Wallace.

Uncle Sam gave him a job as a combat engineer. As a heavy equipment operator, Wallace built bridges, cleared roads, lead conveys with food, ammunition and whatever was needed to take care of the troops. Looking out in the distance, Wallace remembers the daily ambushes.

“I never felt love, even in my large family. The VA showed me love. They pulled me

out of my shell. When I came back home, I really didn’t come home. A big part of me stayed in Vietnam. I had trouble sleeping, was depressed and had trouble readjusting to life as I knew it.”

Wallace’s counselor encouraged him to participate in the Games as another way to interact with Veterans who have shared similar experiences. “The camaraderie with other Vietnam Veterans has been a beautiful thing. We’ve shared our stories, the scary times, and we’ve helped each other just in the short time we’ve been here. I can fi nally smile again. What a joy to have come home,” said Wallace.

“I want to encourage everyone to enjoy our beautiful Honolulu. I am so happy to share our lifestyle and the island spirit with all my fellow Veterans.”

“The VA showed me love.”

Question of the Day: What did you do to pass the time on your fl ight to Hawaii?

Russell Nelson

Iowa (Army)

I read my digital

reading book. I have a

12-hour story so I didn’t

get to fi nish it. I’ll have

to fi nish it up on the

trip back.

John Trevino

California (Army)

I was stuck in the

middle of the middle

row. I ended up having

a nice conversation

with a young

gentleman.

Jim McDonough

Colorado (Coast

Guard)

I watched a movie part

of the time and had

a conversation with a

Hawaiian lawyer.

Dorothy Garrison

California (Air Force)

It seemed like it took

forever but I was able

to fi nish a book of

crossword puzzles.

Baldemar Salmon

California (Army)

We had a 4-hour bus

ride from Fresno before

we even boarded the

fl ight. I slept on the bus

ride and slept on the

plane.

A Hawaiian Feast Fit for Veterans!Throughout the world feasting has been and is a universal form of celebrating happy and important events. Today and Sunday, Veterans will get together with families and friends at a luau to celebrate the 25th National Veterans Golden Age Games in Honolulu, Hawaii.

A luau is a Hawaiian feast. The splendor and spirit of an ancient Hawaiian tradition will be kindled for this year’s participants at the Hale Koa (House of Soldiers) Luau. As you enter the lush tropical garden, each guest will be welcomed with a lei and a tropical refreshing drink.

Music and demonstrations will keep you entertained prior to and during the dinner show. Experience an authentic imu (Hawaiian underground oven) ceremony followed by a bountiful feast of authentic local favorites. The menu will include various salads, native fruits, a sumptuous meat selection and delicious desserts.

Odds & Ends

NVGAG Medical Suite

Available 24 hours May 28-June 1 at Hilton Hawaiian Village, Tapa Tower, Rooms 3329-3330. The NVGAG medical team will not be able to write new prescriptions for visiting athletes and will not write prescriptions for narcotics and other controlled drugs.

There is no regular VA hospital in Honolulu. Honolulu VA clinic hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will be one shuttle to and from the clinic per day which allows for a very quick visit and turnaround time.

Wheelchair & Prosthetics

Durable medical equipment, prosthetics, and wheelchair repair by Invacare. Located at Hilton Hawaiian Village, Tapa Tower 2nd fl oor, Iolani Suites 5-6. Available May 28-31 from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; June 1 from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. From your Hilton hotel room dial 62063, or dial “0” and ask for extension 62063.

Note for Sunday Croquet

There are no food or drink vendors at the venue.

Please make sure you bring lunch along with plenty of water to drink.

Shuttle Schedule

Boarding for shuttles takes place 15 minutes before times listed; departure from Tapa Tower Bus Depot.

Hawaii Convention Center Shuffl eboard — 6:45 a.m.

Hawaii Convention Center Air Rifl e — 10:45

Pearl Harbor — 8:00, 12:30

Punchbowl — 8:30 a.m.

Lost & Found

Hilton Tapa Tower, 2nd fl oor, Honolulu 1 room.

Schedule for Saturday, May 28, 2011AM 5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Noon

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

PM 9

AM 5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Noon

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

PM 9

Schedule for Saturday, May 28, 2011

Breakfast5:30–8:00 a.m.Hilton Tapa Ballroom 2+3

NVGAG Luau – Saturday6:00–9:00 p.m.Hale Koa Luau Gardens

Horseshoes8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.Ilima Lawn-Fort DeRussy

Shuffleboard8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.Hawaii Convention Center

Air Rifle12 noon–5:00 p.m.Hawaii Convention Center

Outrigger Canoeing Exhibition8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.Hilton Hawaiian Village Lagoon

National Cemetery of the Pacific Punchbowl8:30–11:00 a.m.Tapa Tower Bus Depot

Valor in the Pacific National Monument8:00 a.m.–12:00 noonTapa Tower Bus Depot

Valor in the Pacific National Monument11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.Tapa Tower Bus Depot

Medals Ceremony 3:00–5:00 p.m. Hilton Tapa Ballroom 3 (2nd fl.)

(Boarding begins 20 minutes before departure)

Sporting/Competitive Event

Alternate Activities

Meals